So Much and So Little

Sorry I haven't written in awhile. It seems like a lot has happened and not a lot at the same time. I'll try to catch everyone up. Jeff passed away on 12/22. That was pretty hard. I still don't know that I'm totally over it. 12/22 has a bad reputation in my book...I've been engaged once before and that was the date that she decided to leave me, and now that I think of it, it was 10 years prior to this. Damn...10 years? old.

I'm stuck trying to find myself again and think I'm on the up swing. I may be focusing on the negative or focusing on the specifics and not focusing on having fun. Once I started realizing I just needed to go with the flow and make confident choices my improv got better and more fun. So that was good. I applied that theory to an audition I had, but I still attempted to deliver the script word for word, and I just received the script minutes before heading out. I bombed the audition the hardest I have in a long time. Usually I leave an audition wondering whether I'll get it or not. I had no doubt in my mind that I wasn't getting this one, and I knew two people in the lobby who were blown away at how short the audition was. It was kind of refreshing.

Tara and Rich and I auditioned for a new thing forming at Second City...the Second City Musical Improv Group. We all tore it up. We did it for fun and had fun. Tara and I got in. I hope it turns into something great...sometimes it's scary being part of a new thing. I'm psyched to be in it.

Deanna and I went to Vegas for three days for her birthday. She wanted to go somewhere warm...I know now that that means an island, especially when there is a huge winter storm sweeping across the entire nation. We stayed at the Venetian, which is awesome. If you don't really know us you might think Vegas is perfect for us. If you do, you might think "I can't remember seeing them drink, or smoke, or stay out all that late." Vegas isn't really us, but I was expecting it to be warmer. Deanna's dad and step mom are snow birds (Summer in Alaska, Winter in Arizona) and came up to see us while we were there. I finally got to meet them for the first time and they are great...Al and Evie.

Evie reads this a lot and I got a few words from her on keeping it updated...hi Evie!

We went to Hoover Dam with them on Friday. I had never been and took a lot of pictures. Later that night I had dinner reservations at club 3121 at the Rio...Prince's jazz restaurant. And then tickets to see Prince in concert with table seating. It was all a package even though the dinner was in a different place. It was a six course meal and was very good. We even saw Prince walk into the restaurant and visit with a lady we later found out was his godmother.

I was told the doors would open at 10pm. There was a VIP line and a Standing Room Only line. We were to go in the VIP line. Once we got in we were seated 5 feet away from the stage...1 foot away from a very large speaker. I managed to get us moved.

I never did ask when the show was supposed to start. I just assumed it would be sometime near 10pm. It started around 12:30. And the music in that place was loud. At one point the DJ said "everyone up on your feet and dance! Prince isn't coming out until everyone is up!" That was around 12:00.

He finally starts. I recognized maybe 4 of his songs. I guess there are a lot of his hits that he has stopped singing since becoming religious (I'm blanking...the ones that come to your door a lot that aren't the Mormons). Deanna recognized more songs than I did. There were also a number of instrumental solos...some with horns...that were mic'd and loud. My ears are STILL ringing. I hope it isn't permanent.

The whole concert was being filmed. At one point Prince walked through the crowd and was about 1 foot away from me. I'd say he's maybe 5 feet tall. He's very little.

We got back around 3:00 and left at 9:00am for the airport.

I've been getting more into taking pictures (aside from headshots) and shot some fun stuff while in Vegas, so that's been fun.

That's the basic catch up.

I just found out that one of my really good friends may be moving home and I'm sad about that. She knows who she is. I love you and will miss you, but understand that it might be the healthier choice.